Compact spray device

• US 8,061,562 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2007
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Gasper, Thomas P., Nelson, Cory J., Short, Michael E., Furner, Paul E., Sipinski, Gene, Lemon, Leon M., Madsen, Brent D., Carpenter, M. Scott, Michaels, Kenneth W., Kubicek, Chris A., Westphal, Nathan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver; Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams; Stephanie E
• Application Number:
  US11/725,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20070199952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,709 Days
• Field of Search: 222/638, 222/639, 222/642, 222/643, 222/644, 222/645, 222/646, 222/647, 222/648, 222/649, 222/402.13, 222/402.15, 222/504, 222/333, 222/61, 222/52, 222/62, 222/64, 239/69, 239/70, 239/333, 239/337
• US Class Current: 222/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1053 combined with means, other than pressure, for automatically opening a valve during actuation; combined with means for automatically removing closures or covers from the discharge nozzle during actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/02 for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/12 responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/122 responsive to presence or shape of target B05B12/124 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/262 by clockwork, motor, electric or magnetic means operating without repeated human input
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/267 by a separate device actuated by repeated, e.g. human, input, e.g. by a moving wing of a door or window, a ringing doorbell, a flushing toilet

Abstract

An automatic discharge device includes a housing having a top portion and a base portion, wherein surfaces defining a recess are provided therebetween for securely holding a container. At least one gear is disposed substantially between the recess and a rear panel of the housing. A drive motor is in association with the at least one gear. An actuator arm is also provided. Activation of the drive motor and the at least one gear provides for movement of the actuator arm between at least one of a pre-actuation position and a discharge position along a path that has a directional component parallel to a longitudinal axis of the recess.

Claims

1. A method of operating a dispensing unit, comprising:

providing a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having a container disposed therein;

providing a sleep period interval between a spray operation and activation of a motion sensor; and

activating the motion sensor disposed on the dispensing unit after completion of the sleep period interval to detect motion within a sensory path of the sensor,

wherein the motion sensor remains activated until the motion sensor detects motion, whereupon a fluid is automatically discharged from the container, the sleep period interval is reset, and the motion sensor is deactivated.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sleep period interval is selectable by a user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the dispensing unit includes a manual activation switch.

4. The method of claim 1 further including the step of manually activating the dispensing unit during the sleep period interval.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein when the dispensing unit is manually activated the sleep period interval is reset.

6. The method of claim 1 further including the step of providing a startup delay period.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein fluid is discharged from the container upon completion of the startup delay period.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the sleep period interval is provided upon completion of the startup delay period.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sleep period interval is about thirty minutes.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is a photocell.